Agenda item

The report of the Executive Manager – Finance and Corporate Services is attached.

The Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Borough Wide Leadership, Councillor Robinson presented the report of the Executive Manager – Finance and Corporate Services that provided a review of the work undertaken by the Council’s four Scrutiny Groups during 2018/19. The Portfolio Holder invited the Scrutiny Group Chairmen to deliver a brief summary of the work of each Group over the year.

The Chairman of the Community Development Group, Councillor Combellack referred to the breadth of the work undertaken by the Group and highlighted key issues. Tree protection and promotion continued as a priority, with a proposal to plant ten trees per parish for the three years of the project and the ongoing success of the free tree scheme. Sporadic broadband coverage remained an issue, in particular for rural areas and ongoing scrutiny was both challenging and vital. The draft Empty Homes Strategy should result in serviceable accommodation being brought back into use to help alleviate housing shortages. The Armed Forces Community Covenant was an enduring record of the community’s gratitude to military personnel and their families and the role they played locally. Following significant scrutiny of the Borough’s art collection in previous years, it was pleasing to see the installation at the Arena of the engraved bench commemorating the history of Rushcliffe, the parishes and those who have given their lives during conflict. Councillor Combellack thanked members of the Group and officers for their work and support over the past year.

The Chairman of the Corporate Governance Group, Councillor Beardsall confirmed that the Group had scrutinised various issues highlighted in the report. The Group specifically scrutinised finance and risk matters and he thanked the members of the Group for their rigorous scrutiny and officers for their advice and support.

The Chairman of the Partnership Delivery Group, Councillor Cottee referred to the importance of fostering mutually beneficial partnerships through good working relationships, which in turn provided better outcomes for local residents and value for money. The work of the Group throughout the year had further enhanced those partnerships and benefits and the report highlighted the issues covered. Councillor Cottee thanked the Vice-Chairman, Councillor Bailey and members of the Group and officers for their advice and support.

The Chairman of the Performance Management Board, Councillor Clarke referred to the Community Grant Scheme and noted that last year some funding had not been used and reminded Councillors that the funding was available to support community groups and it was hoped that it would all be awarded this year. Councillor Clarke advised that the Group had reviewed car-parking regimes to support the vitality of local communities. A Planning Enforcement Workshop was also planned, with a date to be agreed. Representatives from Parkwood had been invited to a meeting, with the reduction in the use of the bowls club flagged as an issue that would require continued monitoring. In respect of Environmental Health, a number of successful fly-tipping prosecutions had taken place and with 818 food premises in the Borough, the Group had called for future mandatory food inspections. Councillor Clarke thanked the Vice-Chairman, former Councillor Thurman and members of the Group for their incisive questioning and scrutiny.

Councillor Robinson thanked all the Chairmen, members of the Groups and officers for their hard work throughout the year, reiterated the important role that scrutiny played and its achievements, and looked forward to going forward with the new scrutiny arrangements.

The report was moved by Councillor Robinson and seconded by Councillor Mason.

Councillor Gray confirmed that the Labour Group had read the report with interest and looked forward to taking an active role in scrutiny during the coming year and thanked all Councillors, past and present for their hard work.

Councillor Jones echoed the comments of Councillor Gray.

Councillor R Mallender thanked the Scrutiny Groups for their hard work and highlighted a number of key points. It was pleasing to note the work being undertaken to reduce the use of single-use plastics. The move towards the Council becoming a dementia friendly Borough was encouraging, particularly as it affected so many people. The work on the Empty Homes Strategy was very positive and would benefit all communities, as was the tree protection and promotion schemes. The partnership delivery work in relation to the scrutiny of the Grantham Canal Partnership should also be acknowledged.

Councillor Thomas thanked everyone who had been involved and stated that the scrutiny training would be helpful to Councillors in the future.

Councillor Butler stated that the report was very useful and highlighted the serious issues covered and how much involvement the Council had in serving local residents and through internal scrutiny of the Council’s own services. It was pleasing to note that broadband provision continued to be scrutinised.

It was RESOLVED that the work undertaken by the four Scrutiny Groups during 2018/19 be endorsed.